Support eor dredge suction-pipes



Patented Aug. 15, 'l.

@Momma F, L. ELWOOD.

APPUCATIGH FILED AUG.2I. |915.

SUPPORT FOR DREDGE SUCTION PlPES.

FRANK L. ELWOOD, 0F GARY,

INDIANA.

SUPPORT FOR DREDGrE SUCTION-PIPES.

Application Ied August 21, 1915.

To all 'whom t may concern.: n

Be it known that I, FRANK L. ELwooD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gary, in the county of Lake and Stateof indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Supports for Dredge Suction-Pipes, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein tO the accompanying drawing.

rllhis invention relates to that type of dredges and excavators inwhich there is required a pivotally-mounted suction-pipe so arranged that removal of material may be carried on at different depths and Over a comparatively wide area without moving the supporting structure. By pivotally mounting the suction-pipe there is avoided the necessity of swinging the apparatus in its entirety to reach material at different places and the apparatus may be operated ede@- tively vin places so narrow that it would be impossible to swing the entire structure.

rllhe invention provides a pivotal mount for the suction-pipe so arranged that the pipe may be secured at its center of gravity thereon and at different positions on either side of the center of gravity to meet differenti-requirements of service, and provision is made to prevent the pipe from rotary movement in the mount.

When read/in connection with the description herein, the details of construction and arrangement of parts contemplated by the invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing, wherein an embodiment of the invention, as applied to a dredge, is disclosed, for purposes of illustration.

While the disclosures herein now are considered to represent a preferable embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is not the intention to be limited necessarily thereto in interpretation of the claims, as it is apparent that departures therefrom within the limits of the claims can be made without departing from the nature and spirit of the invention.

Like reference-characters refer to corresponding parts in the views of the drawing, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a suctionpipe and of the mount, certain parts being shown in section; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the mount, partly in section; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the mount, partly in section.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, 4 designates a scow, pontoon, or other Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.. 15, 1915.

Serial No. 46,717.

suitable supporting structure for a dredge. Secured to the support is a base-plate 5, having thereon an upward pivotal extension in the form of an annular flange or disk 6, and outside thereof the plate has annular ballraceways 7. A supporting member resting on the base-plate has a base 8 formed in its bottom with an annular recess or seat 9 corresponding in size and arranged to receive the pivotal eXptension 6 whereby it is retained against horizontal displacement and with ball-raceways 10 corresponding to those of the base-plate, anti-friction balls 11 being positioned in the two sets of raceways to facilitate the easy turning of the supporting member. Cleats 12 bolted to the base-plate 5 and overlapping the marginal portion of the base 8 restrain the supporting member from tilting movement. Two similar and oppositely-disposed pillars 13 upstand from the base 8, and each has a boxing 14 in its upper portion in which is journaledV a trunnion 15 of a collar 16. The collar is formed of two semi-circular sections, each carrying one of the trunnions and having an outwardly-extending flange 17, bolts 18 being disposed through the flanges and holding the sections together. rI`wo diametrically-disposed slots 19 open to the interior periphery of the collar, preferably at the joints between the sections. Set-screws 20 are positioned radially in the collar and they are arranged to hold therein a suction-pipe 21. rlhe pipe has ribs or flanges 22 extending longitudinally thereof in the same relative positions and of similar size as the slots 19 of the collar. `When the collar envelops the pipe, the

slots receive the ribs or flanges and rotary movement of the pipe in the collar thereby is prevented; and, when the set-screws are set down against the pipe, the latter thereby is held firmly against longitudinal movement. The suction-pipe has welded thereto at proper intervals bases 23. @n the base 23 adjacent to the discharge or inboard end of the suction-pipe is mounted a prime mover 24, such as an engine or motor, whose shaft 25 carries a ily-wheel 2G and is `iournaled in a pillar 27 on one of the bases 23. rlhe shaft 25 is connected by a coupling 28 to a shaft 29 of a reduction-gear mounted on one of the bases 23 and contained in a casing 30, and a shaft 31 driven by the gear is connected by a coupling 32 to an agitator-shaft 33 carried by pillars 34 mounted on bases 23. rlhe agitator-shaft extends to the mouth of the Copies of this patent may be obtained for suction-pipe Where it turns an agitator 35. Y The suction-pipe at its discharge or inboard end is connected to a flexible pipe 36 to carry oit' material, and in the same end portion it may be provided With handles 39 for use in swinging the pipe.

W hen Working under the usual conditions for which the apparatus is designed, the collar 16 is positioned substantially at the center of gravityr of the suction-pipe, With the result that the pipe may easily be swung manually in a vertical plane to place the suction end at a'greater or less depth, and

the formation of the supporting member and the employment of anti-friction balls between the base of that member Aand the base-plate makes it comparatively easy to swing the suction-pipe--horizontally to bring the agitator andv mouth of the pipe into the vicinity of the material to be removed.

`When itis desired to remove material that cannot be reached by the outboard portion of theV suction-pipe When the collar is at the center of, gravity thereof, or When it is desired to shorten the outboard, the pipe may be moved longitudinally in the collar on vloosening the set-screws thereof, it being understood, of course,fthat thersections of the collar are separated when it is necessary for one of the bases 23 to pass it. Vhen the set-screws are loosened to slide the pipe in the collar, the ribs or flanges 22 and the slots 19 prevent rotary movement of the having a slot receiving said rib and comprising separable sections, trunnions, and setscreivs clamping said pipe, and a rotatable support having bearings in which said trunnions are journaled.

V2. In `a dredge, the combination, With a suction-pipe having a longitudinally-extending rib, of a collar enveloping said pipe and having a slot receiving said rib and comprising separable sections, trunnions, and set-screws clamping said pipe, a base-plate,

ka base turnable on said base-plate and Y means holding said base and base-plate in proper relation, and pillars upstanding from said base and having bearings in which said trunnions are journaled.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature.

FRANK L. ELWOOD.

lve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

i, Y. n Washington,1).0. 

